Why Now is the Best Time to Try YouTube Red

YouTube is introducing YouTube Red, the "all-in-one pass: ad-free video, uninterrupted music, [and] exclusive shows." Even better, they're offering this package for only 99¢ a month for the first three months, then $9.99 per month thereafter. This offer expires on June 17, 2016, so what exactly does this deal offer?

Source: YouTube

YouTube Red has some pretty cool features if you love watching shows and movies and listening to music. Take a look:

Save videos to your devices and watch them ad-free, even when you're offline.

Play videos uninterrupted in your device's background while you use other apps and even when your device is locked.

Listen to audio only on personalized stations on YouTube's new music app, YouTube Music. It also includes a Google Play Music subscription for no additional cost, and if you're already subscribed to Google Play Music, you'll get a free YouTube Red membership.

Connect with your favorite gamers on YouTube Gaming.

*Amount of video and audio files saved on your mobile device depends on the amount of free space and storage capacity.

Source: YouTube

YouTube Red is available on mobile devices, tablets, desktop computers, and TVs, but some benefits are only compatible with certain devices. Also, if you're interested in viewing rentals, pay-per-view content, or paid channel subscriptions on YouTube, note that YouTube Red does not include access to these extras.

Source: Spotify

Spotify is also incentivizing users to Go Premium by offering the same deal - 3 months for 99¢. It's the same $9.99 per month afterwards, as well as the option to cancel anytime. This offer lasts until June 30, 2016 if you need some time to contemplate.

At 99¢ a month, I think it'd be cool to try it out, although I'm not sure if I'm willing to pay $10 a month to watch ad-free YouTube videos. Is it worth it to you? Let us know in the comments below!

Daisy loves to write with humor and can be quite the sarcastic commentator when it is appropriate. Loves carbs, fashion, staying active, and pinning the latest DIY projects for her room (which she will actually never do).

I think the $.99/month promotional offer is a great deal and the more time you spend on YouTube, especially via mobile devices, the more the subscription proves its value.

Personally, however, I won't (ever) sign up for it, mostly out of resentment. Many Japanese record labels and channels -- partly due to issues regarding the differences in piracy laws between the two countries -- have not agreed to participate in the YouTube RED subscription model, leading to the majority of Japanese music I enjoy suddenly becoming unavailable for me to listen to or even find in searches (if I manage to find it, the video container says something like "This content is not available in your country."). This makes discovering new music and sharing the music I like with others more or less impossible through YouTube and I don't think it'll change anytime soon, especially as RED rolls out globally. I could bypass that by using a VPN but I don't want to bother when there are other platforms I could use like Niconico and Bandcamp.

This is just personal anecdote though. The vast majority would find YouTube RED a pleasant improvement to their overall experience and that's a-okay!